Kieran O'Donnell (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I wish to raise surgery treatment for cataracts, which more particularly affects the elderly. Huge difficulties are encountered by people in need of such treatment in Limerick and the mid-west. As we speak, 783 people in the mid-west are waiting approximately 15 months for cataract surgery from the time they had their assessment. That is not acceptable. Many elderly people have come to me to raise the issue. Following surgery people go overnight from a situation of being almost blind to being able to see. One elderly gentleman who came to see me recently told me he was on the waiting list to have surgery on both eyes. He was so distraught that his family came together to ensure he could have an operation on one eye at a cost of €2,000. The operation was carried out in Ireland which meant it did not qualify for the treatment abroad scheme and he was not on the waiting list for sufficiently long to qualify for the National Treatment Purchase Fund.

We must find ways to allow such people to have the operations they need. A proposal is before the HSE at the moment from the University of Limerick hospital group to develop a cataract surgery hub at Nenagh General Hospital.It would seek to operate five days per week. A full complement of staff would be in the order of 16, including two ophthalmologist consultants, two registrars, two clinical nurses, two general nurses, one advanced nurse, two ophthalmologists and clerical staff. The revenue budget would be approximately €1.75 million per annum in order to have the facility fully up and running. There is a capital cost of €500,000 to buy equipment. If the facility is fully up and running, is will deal with approximately 45 cases per week. The waiting list would be gone in nearly a year.

I am asking that the Department and HSE would give the go-ahead for €500,000 to meet the capital cost. It would take three or four months to commission the equipment. The start date would be in quarter 2 of 2018. It would be possible to get the equipment under existing tender frameworks. The minimum complement of staff required to get the facility up and running is approximately six, involving one consultant ophthalmologist, one registrar, three nurses, and one member of ancillary staff. Approximately €500,000 per year would be required. The Minister could allocate €375,000 for revenue for 2018 and €500,000 up-front to meet the capital cost. This amounts to €875,000. What I propose has to be done.

The reason I refer to Nenagh General Hospital is because it has a state-of-the-art theatre, two brand-new theatres, a day ward and a procedure room in place. It is a model 2 hospital. It is very much in keeping with the thinking on elective care. As matters stand, cataract surgery is being done at the university hospital on the regional site. The number of procedures is in the order of 30 to 35 per week. At times, however, the theatre must be reserved for acute emergency procedures. That work will continue. In addition to the 30 or 35 procedures per week at the regional site, we want an additional ten to 15 procedures to be carried out per week, resulting in up to 45 per week. This would require an allocation €875,000, including €500,000 to meet capital expenses and €375,000 for revenue. Over time, the figure should be increased to €1.75 million in order to carry out 45 procedures per week. This is an urgent matter for Limerick and the mid-west.